“I want you to know that one of the reasons that I worked so hard with Democrats and Republicans to keep the government open was so that I could show up here today — I wanted to make sure that all of you had one more excuse to skip class,” he said to students in the audience. “You’re welcome.”

The administration last year tried with mixed success to create some campaign atmospherics for the president, staging a series of backyard events on health care and the economy that showcased him as more relaxed and affable, away from the pressure of the White House.

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It was in part an effort to counter the reputation Obama has accrued while governing as a sometimes distant, dispassionate leader.

“If anything, loosening up on the campaign trail is even more necessary for this president than most, because he is by nature far more formal than at least his most recent predecessors, and to say that 21st-century American culture is ‘loose and informal’ is to understate the case considerably,” said Clark Ervin, who served on Obama’s transition.

“Nowadays, regrettably in my view, the last thing the average voter wants in the White House is an intellectual, and since this president is the quintessential intellectual, it’s a wonder — another wonder, his race, heritage, short stint on the public stage being others — that he was elected in the first place,” said Ervin, now at the Aspen Institute. “In these uncertain economic times, unless this president can demonstrate a feel-your-pain kind of connection with voters, his reelection is anything but the certainty it should otherwise be.”

A CNN/Opinion Research poll taken at the end of May underscores the challenges and opportunities Obama faces. Just 41 percent said they approve of the way Obama is handling the economy, 34 percent approve of his handling of the budget deficit, and 25 percent approve of his handling of gas prices.

Yet 55 percent said Obama shares their values, and 60 percent said they believe he cares about people like them — strong ratings that signal the potency of Obama’s likability.

“The public has had a little bit of a re-education on Obama, realizing he wasn’t the messiah after all,” said Joe Tuman, a political communications professor at San Francisco State University. “We realize the expectations about him were too high.”

As Obama headlines his early 2012 fundraisers, he demonstrates a self-deprecating awareness of how differently he is perceived now.

“I know people are also saying, ‘You know, he’s looking old. You know, he seemed so fresh and young back in 2008.’” He added, laughing, “You know, I’m a little dinged up here and there.”

Yet some of the old Obama campaign magic from 2008 is back. In front of supporters, Obama grows more animated, and even incredulous and sarcastic, as he describes his travails in governing.

“There have been times over the last two and a half years where I know you all have gotten frustrated sometimes,” he said to laughter at a recent Democratic Party fundraiser in Washington. “I know all these conversations you’re having, ‘Oh, why did Obama compromise with the Republicans on that?’ ‘Why did health care take so long?’ ‘Where’s my public option?’”

Ugh... come on people, wake up, these guys are nothing but puppets for those in favor of world government, it doesn't matter if it is Obama, Gingrich or Romney, they're all the same, nobody is even allowed to appear viable unless they can be bought off like these purchased clowns and most of congress. Respect yourselves, our sovereignty and the REPUBLIC we were given and demand real change. Look for substance rather than 'charisma' and stop believing in these fake front men.

The Yellow Stream Media is as phony and shameless as Bozo and everyone with an IQ over 80 knows it. We are not going away, Bozo sycophants … not ever … but you will. One way or another, you brain-dead zombie socialists and your effed-up pathological messiah are going. all

This time the million dollar smile isn't gonna cut it. And what is this nonsense of "sharing our values." That statistic should be close to 100%. Values should be basic things people share. The fact is that close to half of the country think he is a socialist or an anarchist or a Black Panther wannabe. This is a statistic he would be proud to repeat! The leftist elite types are just using him as as a front man to push their agendas behind the scenses. It will come out one day that he was just a figuehead or played golf, visited countries and gave speeches while his leftist buddies played west wing.

Charm can not make up for all of the failed policies that Obama has been pushing on us. He and the Democrats wasted their first two years forcing programs on the American People that we didn't want. As a matter of fact we still don't want those programs. In those first 2 years the American People were pushed aside in favor of forcing through a Democratic agenda that was 40 years of age.

In that same time period unemployment, the economy, job creation and the lost of over a million homes a year became a new phase of life for Americans. The American People were pushing to the back of the line while the Democratic agenda was first in line. We became nothing more than a nuisance to them. Come to think of it the American People are still at the back of the line. Libya has taken the lead now. The American People and Business are still waiting to see what direction this administration will take. We have been put in a permanent state of limbo. Now Obama is close to being 3 years too late.

Charm can not make up for all of the failed policies that Obama has been pushing on us. He and the Democrats wasted their first two years forcing programs on the American People that we didn't want. As a matter of fact we still don't want those programs. In those first 2 years the American People were pushed aside in favor of forcing through a Democratic agenda that was 40 years of age.

In that same time period unemployment, the economy, job creation and the lost of over a million homes a year became a new phase of life for Americans. The American People were pushing to the back of the line while the Democratic agenda was first in line. We became nothing more than a nuisance to them. Come to think of it the American People are still at the back of the line. Libya has taken the lead now. The American People and Business are still waiting to see what direction this administration will take. We have been put in a permanent state of limbo. Now Obama is close to being 3 years too late.

Obama is indeed a likable person but his policies are killing our country. In addition, the man has no leadership skills, has too thin a skin, blames everyone but himself and makes someone else do the hard lifting and then he comes in for the glory. He is the most "I' and "me" president I have ever heard. It takes a lot more than a good personality to run a country and our current president doesn't come close to what is needed.

Obama is indeed a likable person but his policies are killing our country. In addition, the man has no leadership skills, has too thin a skin, blames everyone but himself and makes someone else do the hard lifting and then he comes in for the glory. He is the most "I' and "me" president I have ever heard. It takes a lot more than a good personality to run a country and our current president doesn't come close to what is needed.